Whether for commuting or for leisure travel, Flemish ferries are becoming increasingly popular with the services transporting 1 million more passengers last year than in 2021.
A total of 24 ferry services exist in the Dutch-speaking region. The majority of the ferry services are for the transport of two-wheelers and pedestrians, but there are also some ferries that allow passenger cars and trucks to cross. This mode of transport is being used more frequently, Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters said.
"In 2022, more than 5.6 million passengers used our 24 ferry services across Flanders. That is an increase of no less than 1 million passengers compared to 2021, where we still carried 4.6 million passengers," she noted in a press release.
"These figures show that waterborne transport remains important in Flanders. It is essential to deploy passenger mobility via water at strategic locations to achieve smooth connections." Peeters added that in many places, the ferry services are "important links in the surrounding traffic."
While some ferries are mainly used for commuter travel – in some places, they can replace cars and provide a way to avoid Belgium's infamous traffic jams – others like the ferries along the Meuse are used for more recreational travel.
The ferry services in the region are managed by The Agency for Maritime Services and Coast and De Vlaamse Waterweg. In Flanders, these services are free, while there are also two 'water bus services' on the Scheldt in Antwerp and between Vilvoorde to Brussels (Sainctelette), but these are not free.
